Spent a week in SC with my daughter visiting my family though Aug. 15th though the 23rd. We had a nice time, and when I had some spare time I took off to herp. I did get three lifers on the trip, Mud Snake, S. Red Salamander, and S. Two-lined.

Aug. 16th
Florence County, SC

Most always on these trips the 1st time I go out is with my dad. We hit a few roads and one of the local parks for a while. Not much seemed to be moving, which with the heat of the day I will find that to be the case for most my outings throughout the week.

2 Five-Lined Skinks
1 Ground Skink
2 Southern Toads
1 Bullfrog
TMTC Southern Leopard Frogs

S. Toads

S. Leopard

Aug. 17th

Florence County, SC

Meet up with a friend Matt and two others, and went out for a nice morning at a few local spots. Not much at the 1st spot expt a racer and a few toads. On the way to the 2nd spot we saw two box turtles crossing the road. A good sign. On to the next spot we had some better luck along with a nice prize that Matt spotted.

2 Eastern Box Turtles (AOR)
2 Southern  Racer  (1 DOR)
3 Cottonmouths
5 Banded Water Snakes
1 Mud Snake
TMTC Five-Lined Skinks
3 Anoles
2 Ground Skinks
2 Southern Toads
1 Southern Cricket Frog
5+ Unided Frogs
1 Atlantic Coastal Slimy

E. Box

Yellow Bellied Sliders

Southern Cricket Frog

Anole

Five-lined Skinks

Ground Skink

Banded Water Snakes

Cottonmouths

Mud Snake nest

The Prize – Anerythristic Mud Snake

DOR Racer

Aug. 18th
Georgetown County

This day was spent with my mother and daughter at the beach and brookgreen gardens, did see a few herps while we were out.

1 Banded Water Snake
1 Green Tree Frog (3 Calling)
TMTC Southern Leopard Frogs
Unided Tadpoles (possible Leopards)
1 Anole
2  Alligators

Florence County
1 Copperhead (DOR)

Banded Water

Alligators

Green Tree Frog

S. Leopard Tadpole?

DOR Copperhead

Aug. 19th
Florence County

Went out for a while by myself, determined to get a good shot of a six-lined racerunner, but that failed. I did get a few shots that were far away, could not get a close up. Saw a few other things while walking around, but nothing to exciting. Then went to the river with my daughter and mother for a while, not much seen but a skink and a snappers nest.

TMTC Six-lined Racerunners
TMTC Five-Lined Skinks
1 Cottonmouth
1 Banded Water Snake
1 Snapper
Snapping Turtle Nest

Banded Water

Cotton

Skinks

Racerunner

Snapper Nest

Snapper

Aug. 21st
Florence County

Went fishing for a while, nothing was biting. Then to my step-sisters where there were some tadpoles in her fountain. No clue for the ID but I am guessing Hyla
2 Southern Leopard Frogs
100+ Unided Tadpoles (hyla?)

S. Leopards

Unided Tads

Aug. 22nd
Florence County

Some night herping on the river with a few other herpers. Goal was mud salamanders, but no luck there, I did get two new lifers.

2 Southern Toads
1 Southern Leopard Frog
2 Southern Red Salamanders
4 Southern Two-lined Salamander

S. Two-Lined

S. Red Salamander

3 Queen Snakes
1 Racer
1 Rat snake
2 N watersnakes

1 Bullfrog
TMTC Peeper Tadpoles

4 Ambystoma Larvae

Saw this guy crossing the road and then ran though a field to catch up with him. 1st Racer I have seen in Allegheny Co. Can check this off my goals for the county.

Checked one of the Queen spots on the creek.

Went to the Pools to see how big some of the Larvae and Tadpoles were.

Spring Peeper Tadpoles

Ambysoma Larvae. Still unsure if these are spotted or jefferson’s.

Then while I was talking to this guy an his daughter and showing them a few Watersnakes a nice size Rat snake swam up.

May 23 – Allegheny County
Out with my daughter Kyra to let her see some seasonal pools and see what she could dip.
A few Ambystoma Larvae, A. Toad Tads, Wood Tads.
3 Queens
5+ N. Waters

Watersnakes

Queen Snakes

Kyra with Tadpole

Kyra looking to see what was in the net. (aquatic snails, tadpoles, fairly shrimp). She learned some about seasonal pool ecology.

May 25th- Allegheny County
3 queens
5 A. toads
1 Bull calling.

Queen Snakes

Scarlet Tanger

May 28 – Westmoreland County
Outing with friends Bob and Steve.
2 Ratsnakes
1 Watersnake
5+ Toads
3 Mtn. Dusky
1 Spring
1 yeariling snapper

Was starting to rain some and bob spotted this juvi. rat on the trail.

We were going to a rock formation that Steve told us about called and “Indian Postoffice” Not sure the correct term. A neat looking formation, it’s just a good thing we reached it before it started pouring rain for atleast on hour.

Indian Postoffice

Checking out Antlions (Bob and Steve)

Waiting out the rain. (Bob and Steve)

Myself

After it quite raining I noticed a nice rat in a bird box.

Along the trail in a little puddle. Snapper

Then a spring salamander I found in a small creek.

Another neat siting was this pileated woodpecker nest.

and a helgermite

May 30 – Somewhere, PA (no location disclosure)
Myself and Steve went to a spot to meet up with a few other friends for a little fun trip.

2 Saguas (1 female, 1 juvi)
4 Smooth Greens (I only saw the tail of on others were saw by other ppl no photo so im bummed)
1 A. Toad
4 Garters

Gartersnake

1st Sagua of the day – Female

Pit tag and tubing for scale counting. (done by biologist)

2nd sagua – Juvi.

Purple Martins

Totals to May 21
6 Queen Snakes
3 Garter Snakes
3 Watersnakes
3 Rat Snakes
1 Ringneck
4 Milksnakes
1 N. Racer

1 spring salamander
A few Mtn. Duskys and Twolineds

TMTC Bullfrogs, Green Frogs, A. Toads

Allegheny County
Ratsnake

Ringneck

Queen

Checking Seasonal Pools

Kyra Playing with Toads

Kyra with Box Turtle.

Westmoreland County

Mtn. Dusky

Twolined

Pickerel

A. Toad

Green

Garter


Washington County
Out with my friend Bob at one of his locations for milks. Not a bad day.

Racer – Pa Lifer for me.

Odd white Ventral?

Milksnakes in Pairs – 2 rocks flipped each with a M & F.

Bob and milks.

Myself

April 25th
few spotted salamander egg masses
tmtc A. toad eggs
5+ A. toads calling
1 N. water snake

April 26th
1 dor rat snake

April 30th
4 n waters snake
1 queen snake
few spring peepers calling
2 bullfrogs calling

May 01
4 queens snakes
10+ N. Waters snakes
2 A. Toads
TMTC A. Toad Tadpoles

1 E. Box Turtle

Queen Snake

E. Box Turtle

The Pennsylvania Herpetological Education and Resource Project – PAHERP (http://www.paherp.com), a new resource to the reptiles and amphibians within Pennsylvania. We have been working on the project for a while and are proud to be announcing it tothe public today.

“PAHERP offers a selection of resources dealing with amphibian and reptile species in Pennsylvania, games and activities for kids, and teacher resources. The site is focused on education, and includes an online database to encourage the public to submit records and help with conservation. Pennsylvania is home to an extraordinary diversity of amphibian and reptile species. Many of these species have either shown evidence of population decline or have life-history traits that make them susceptible to decline. There is a critical need for information on 36 amphibian and reptile species in Pennsylvania (Wildlife Action Plan priority species or species of conservation concern). Most of these species are sparsely distributed over large areas, making it difficult to accurately survey for their presence and abundance.
Read more »

Here are a few photos from the past few weeks of different outings in PA for the beginning of spring.

Totals:
2 Garter Snake
TMTC American Toads - 4 Choruses
1 Spring Peeper – Many Choruses
1 Wood Frog  - Many Calls
1 N. Leopard Frog Call
1 Green Frog Call
Many Ambystoma Salamander Egg Masses
2 Spotted Salamanders
TMTC  Northern Duskys Salamander
6 Mountain Duskys Salamander
14 Ravine Salamanders
1 Redback Salamander (lead)
1 Spring Salamander
2 Two-lined Salamander
7 Painted turtles
3 DOR snapper
And some Unided’s

First Garter of the year. Thanks to Bob’s gf. spotting it

Bob showing Kyra the Garter.

Plenty of Duskys:

Redback

Twolineds

Spring Salamander

Bob with his prize.

Kyra being Kyra.

Ambystoma Eggs

Ravine Salamander

Spring Peeper

American Toads

Hop over and check on the new  PA HERP ATLAS

Hi Everyone,
I’ve got some exciting news about the PA Online Herpetological Atlas. Jason Poston, a visual designer and frequent contributor to the atlas project, has done a terrific job at revamping the entire webpage. He’s also given it a much user friendly address at http://www.paherpatlas.org. Please check it out. You might also want to check out Jason’s herp identification website at http://www.paherps.com. There is still a lot of updating to do – I’m working on more user friendly maps, Jason has been working on some brochures, etc., so keep checking back. Please let us know what you think of the new website and send us your suggestions. You will find our e-mail address and a comment submission form under the Contact link.

Tim